Method and device to search for and execute content using a touch screen

ABSTRACT

A method and device to search for and execute content are provided. The method of searching for and executing content includes displaying at least one content icon, and identifying, if an approach to one of the at least one content icon is detected, a content icon of a position at which the approach is detected. The method further comprises determining a classification category of a content corresponding to the identified content icon, searching for at least one related content classified in the same classification category as the content corresponding to the identified content icon, displaying the identified content icon and at least one related content icon corresponding to the at least one related content using a preset display method, and executing, if one of the at least one content icon is touched, a content corresponding to the touched content icon.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/535,267, filed on Aug. 4, 2009, and claims priority from and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0088560, filed on Sep.9, 2008, which are both hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method anddevice configured to search for and execute content using a touchscreen.

2. Description of the Background

Devices having a touch screen are widely used. When a user directlycontacts a touch screen using a finger or a pen type touch device, thetouch screen display device recognizes the portion of the touch screenin which the contact occurs, to execute an instruction corresponding tothe portion, or to move a position of a cursor. Because touch screens donot require space for a separate input unit, touch screens may beappropriate for a small terminal and may be widely used in mobiledevices.

As touch screen technology develops, touch user interface technology isbecoming diversified. Current touch user interface technologies includea touch screen method in which a tactile sensor detects a distributionof a pressing force, a vibration feedback method to notify a usertouching a touch screen that the touch is recognized by performing avibration, and a multi-touch method to enlarge or reduce a displayscreen by recognizing touches of more than one finger.

A method to search for contents more simply together with the notedtechnologies above, and a user interface related to the method has beendeveloped. To search for and execute a specific content stored withindevices having a touch screen, a user may have to repeat a touch actionseveral times and search through a content list. Although severaltechnologies have been developed in relation to a simple method ofsearching for and executing content, when using a conventional touchscreen, a limitation exists in reducing the quantity of touch actions.

Further, when developing a recommendation function of recommending anddisplaying content for a user to use, a limitation exists when using aconventional touch screen method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method ofsimply searching for and executing content thereby reducing the quantityof touch actions.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a devicehaving a touch screen for simply searching for and executing contentthereby reducing the quantity of touch actions.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a methodcomprising displaying at least one content icon, and identifying, if anapproach to one of the at least one content icon is detected, a contenticon at a position at which the approach is detected. The method furthercomprises determining a classification category of content correspondingto the identified content icon, and searching for at least one relatedcontent classified in the same classification category as the contentcorresponding to the identified content icon. The method furthercomprises displaying, using a display method, the identified contenticon and at least one related content icon corresponding to the at leastone related content, and executing, if one of the at least one contenticons is touched, content corresponding to the touched content icon.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a devicecomprising an approach detection unit, a touch detection unit, a displayunit, a storage unit, and a controller. The approach detection unitdetects an approach of a touch device. The touch detection unit detectsa touch of the touch device. The display unit displays at least onecontent icon and content corresponding thereto. The storage unit storesthe at least one content icon and content corresponding thereto. Thecontroller identifies, when an approach detection signal is receivedfrom the approach detection unit, a content icon at a position at whichthe approach is detected. The controller determines a classificationcategory of content corresponding to the identified content icon, andsearches in the storage unit, for at least one related contentclassified in the same category as the content corresponding to theidentified content icon. The controller displays, using a displaymethod, the identified content icon and at least one related contenticon corresponding to the at least one related content in the displayunit, and executes, if a touch detection signal is received from thetouch detection unit, a content corresponding to the touched contenticon.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a devicehaving a touch screen to search for and execute content according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching for andexecuting content using a touch screen according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for a relatedcontent according to a content classification reference in the method ofFIG. 2 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying a foundrelated content icon in the method of FIG. 2 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method ofsearching for and executing content of FIG. 2 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C illustrate display screens according to the exampleof FIG. 5A, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method ofsearching for and executing content of FIG. 2 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention

FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, and FIG. 6D illustrate display screens according tothe example of FIG. 6A, according to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method ofsearching for and executing content of FIG. 2 according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C illustrate display screens according to the exampleof FIG. 7A, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, thesize and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated forclarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

Prior to explaining exemplary embodiments of the present invention,relevant terminology will be defined for the description below.

‘Contents’ may refer to various programs or information provided from anon-line or off-line source. Contents may indicate entire data storedwithin a device. For example, content may include a picture file, musicfile, moving picture file, document file, and various other applicationprograms.

A ‘content icon’ may refer to an image displayed on a screen having afunction of distinguishing particular content. The content icon may beclassified and displayed according to an attribute of the content. Forexample, content having different attributes, such as music content andpicture content, may be displayed with different content icon forms.Further, contents having the same attribute may be displayed withdifferent content icons according to a classification reference. Forexample, two picture contents having different file extensions may bedisplayed with different content icons. The content icon may guideexecution of the content, and a user may execute the content by touchinga corresponding content icon.

A ‘file format’ may refer to a classification reference that indicates aconfiguration in which a content file is stored. Content may be storedwith a specific file format. For example, in a drawing content, a fileformat thereof may be classified as a ‘JPEG image,’ ‘bit map image,’ or‘GIF image.’ In a music content, a file format thereof may be classifiedinto an ‘MP3 file’ or ‘Windows Media audio file.’ In a document file, afile format thereof may be classified into a ‘Jungum Global documentfile,’ ‘Hangul document file,’ or ‘Microsoft Word document file.’ Inaddition, an ‘Adobe Acrobat file’ and ‘application programs’ may beincluded in a file format.

A ‘content generation time point’ may refer to a classificationreference that indicates a time point at which content is generated andstored. For example, in a picture content, ‘a content generation timepoint’ may indicate a time point at which a picture is taken and stored.

A ‘content generation source’ may refer to a classification reference ofa generator of content or a content generating device. For example, thecontent generation source of picture content may be a camera device thattakes a picture. Further, the content generation source of music contentmay be a composer and/or an album title of music content.

A ‘content having a link function’ may refer to a classificationreference of a content having a link function that is to be performedwhen the specified content is executed. For example, a content having alink function referring to a person may include a communication functioncontent, message transmission and reception content, e-mail transmissionand reception content, picture content, and homepage connection contentof that person.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a devicehaving a touch screen to search for and execute content according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

A device 100 to search for and execute content according to exemplaryembodiments may have a touch screen, and may be, for example, a mobilecommunication terminal, a mobile terminal (e.g., PDA), a computer, or aTV. The device 100 may include a touch screen 110, a storage unit 120,and a controller 130.

The touch screen 110 may include a display unit 112, an approachdetection unit 114, and a touch detection unit 116.

The display unit 112 may be formed with a liquid crystal display (LCD)and may display various display data and operating states generated inthe device 100 on the touch screen 110. The display unit 112 may displaya content icon, and may display content-related information when contentis executed.

The approach detection unit 114 may detect a touch device approachingthe touch screen 110. When a touch device approaching the touch screen110 moves within a preset distance from the touch screen 110, theapproach detection unit 114 may detect the presence of the touch device.The approach detection unit 114 may include a capacitance touchdetection sensor or an approach sensor. However, the approach detectionunit 114 may not be limited thereto and may include any sensor fordetecting an approach of an object. When the approach detection unit 114detects an approach to the touch screen 110 of a touch device, theapproach detection unit 114 may transmit an approach detection signal tothe controller 130. The approach detection signal may includeinformation about the approach position (i.e., position information in ahorizontal plane and position information in a vertical plane) of thetouch device.

The touch detection unit 116 may detect a touch of a touch device on thetouch screen 110. The touch detection unit 116 may be formed with acapacitance touch detection sensor or a pressure sensor. However, thetouch detection unit 116 may not be limited thereto and may include anysensor for detecting a touch of a touch device. When the touch detectionunit 116 detects a touch of a touch device on the touch screen 110, thetouch detection unit 116 may transmit a touch detection signal to thecontroller 130. The touch detection signal may include information aboutthe touch position (i.e., position information in a horizontal plane) ofthe touch device.

The storage unit 120 may store entire contents including program andcontent icons. Further, the storage unit 120 may store a classificationreference for classifying content corresponding to a content icon at aposition at which an approach is detected and for classifying relatedcontents included in the same category as that of the content.

The controller 130 may control general operations of the device 100 andmay control the display, in the display unit 112, of contents andcontent icons stored in the storage unit 120. Further, when thecontroller 130 receives an approach detection signal from the approachdetection unit 114, the controller 130 may identify a content icon at anapproach position of the touch device, may search for at least onerelated content in the same category as that of content corresponding tothe identified content icon, and may display a content icon of the atleast one related content in the display unit 112. Further, when a touchdetection signal is received from the touch detection unit 116, thecontroller 130 may execute the content corresponding to a touchedcontent icon.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of searching for andexecuting content using a touch screen according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 130 may instruct the display unit112 to display at least one content icon (210).

When a content icon is displayed, a touch device may approach the touchscreen 110 (220). The touch device may be a user's finger or a separatetouch instrument such as a touch pen. The approach action to the touchscreen 110 of the touch device may be performed until the touch devicemoves within a preset distance in a vertical direction from the touchscreen 110. The preset distance may be a distance from the touch screen110 within which the approach detection unit 114 can detect an approach,and can be changed according to a detection distance of the approachdetection unit 114 or a user's setting.

If the perpendicular distance from the touch screen 110 to a position ofa touch device is ‘X’ and the maximum detection distance at which theapproach detection unit 114 can detect an approach is ‘MD,’ the approachdetection unit 114 may detect an approach of the touch device when ‘X’is less than or equal to ‘MD’ (230).

If ‘X’ is less than or equal to ‘MD,’ the approach detection unit 114may detect an approach of the touch device and may transmit an approachdetection signal to the controller 130 (240). If ‘X’ is greater than‘MD,’ the process may return to step 220.

When the controller 130 receives the approach detection signal from theapproach detection unit 114, the controller 130 may identify a contenticon at a position at which the approach is detected (250). The contenticon at the position at which the approach is detected may be a contenticon positioned within a preset distance from a position of the touchdevice. The approach detection unit 114 may identify any content iconpositioned within a preset distance from the position of the touchdevice.

The controller 130 may search in the storage unit 120 for at least onerelated content classified in the same category as that of the contentcorresponding to the identified content icon by a preset classificationreference (260).

The controller 130 may instruct the display unit 112 to display acontent icon of the related content (270).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for a relatedcontent according to a content classification reference of step 260 inthe method of FIG. 2, according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

The content classification reference is not limited to theclassification references described in relation to FIG. 3 and can bechanged by user setting.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 130 may determine whether a ‘fileformat’ is set as a content classification reference of the identifiedcontent (310). If a ‘file format’ is set as a content classificationreference of the identified content, the controller 130 may search thestorage unit 120 for content having a file format identical to orsimilar to that of the content corresponding to the identified contenticon (311).

If a ‘file format’ is not set as a content classification reference ofthe identified content, the controller 130 may determine whether a‘content name’ is set as a content classification reference of theidentified content (320).

If a ‘content name’ is set as a content classification reference of theidentified content, the controller 130 may search the storage unit 120for content having a content name identical to or similar to that of thecontent corresponding to the identified content icon (321).

If a ‘content name’ is not set as a content classification reference ofthe identified content, the controller 130 may determine whether a‘content generation time point’ is set as a content classificationreference of the identified content (330).

If a ‘content generation time point’ is set as a content classificationreference of the identified content, the controller 130 may search thestorage unit 120 for content having a content generation time pointidentical to or similar to that of the content corresponding to theidentified content icon (331).

If a ‘content generation time point’ is not set as a contentclassification reference of the identified content, the controller 130may determine whether a ‘content generation source’ is set as a contentclassification reference of the identified content (340).

If a ‘content generation source’ is set as a content classificationreference of the identified content, the controller 130 may search thestorage unit 120 for content having a content generation sourceidentical to or similar to that of the content corresponding to theidentified content icon (341).

If a ‘content generation source’ is not set as a content classificationreference of the identified content, the controller 130 may determinewhether a ‘link function’ is set as a content classification referenceof the identified content (350).

If a ‘link function’ is set as a content classification reference of theidentified content, the controller 130 may search the storage unit 120for content having a ‘linked function’ to the content corresponding tothe identified content icon (351).

If a ‘link function’ is not set as a content classification reference ofthe identified content, the controller 130 may determine whether a ‘usefrequency’ is set as a content classification reference of theidentified content (360).

If a ‘use frequency’ is set as a content classification reference of theidentified content, the controller 130 may search the storage unit 120for content having a high use frequency in relation to a use frequencyof the content corresponding to the identified content icon (361).

If a ‘use frequency’ is not set as a content classification reference ofthe identified content, the controller 130 may search the storage unit120 for a most recently used content (370).

Further, when the content corresponding to the identified content iconis a picture content, a content icon classification reference can be setso that a related content icon of the identified content iconcorresponds to, for example, content including an image of the sameperson in the content corresponding to the identified content icon,content including the same location image as that of the contentcorresponding to the identified content icon, and/or content generatedby the same photographing means as that of the content corresponding tothe identified content icon.

When a related content is found, the process returns to FIG. 2 and thecontroller 130 instructs the display unit 112 to display a relatedcontent icon corresponding to the found related content in the displayunit 112 (270).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying a foundrelated content icon of step 270 in the method of FIG. 2.

The display process of step 270 may not be limited to the process shownin FIG. 4 and can be changed by user setting.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 130 may determine whether ‘iconmovement’ is set as a method of displaying a related content icon (410).

If ‘icon movement’ is set as a method of displaying a related contenticon, the controller 130 may instruct the display unit 112 to move anddisplay a presently displayed related content icon to an area within apreset distance from the identified content icon (411). The identifiedcontent icon may remain in a fixed state in its present position, andrelated content icons thereof may move to a periphery of the identifiedcontent icon. To easily identify a related content icon, sizes of theidentified content icon and the related content icons after the movementprocess can be adjusted by user setting.

If ‘icon movement’ is not set as a method of displaying a relatedcontent icon, the controller 130 may determine whether ‘division of adisplay area’ is set as a method of displaying a related content icon(420).

If ‘division of a display area’ is set as a method of displaying arelated content icon, the controller 130 may divide a display area inwhich content icons are to be displayed (421).

After the display area is divided, the controller 130 may instruct thedisplay area 112 to display related content icons in one of the divideddisplay areas (422). A display area in which the identified content iconand related content icons thereof are to be positioned may be divided. Adisplay area used other than for displaying the identified content iconand related content icons thereof may also be divided to display contenticons other than the identified content icon and related content icons.

If ‘division of a display area’ is not set as a method of displaying arelated content icon, the controller 130 may determine whether ‘icongeneration’ is set as a method of displaying a related content icon(430).

If ‘icon generation’ is set as a method of displaying a related contenticon, the controller 130 may generate and display a related content iconthat is not presently displayed in an area within a preset distance ofthe identified content icon (431). The related content icons may bedistributed and displayed radially around the identified content icon ormay be displayed in various manners by user setting.

If ‘icon generation’ is not set as a method of displaying a relatedcontent icon, the controller 130 may sustain a present display state ofthe content icon (440).

Returning to FIG. 2, the touch detection unit 116 may determine whetherone of the displayed content icons is touched (280).

If one of the displayed content icons is touched, the touch detectionunit 116 may detect the touch and transmit a touch detection signal tothe controller 130. If none of the displayed content icons is touched,the controller 130 may sustain the content icon display state.

When the controller 130 receives the touch detection signal from thetouch detection unit 116, the controller 130 may execute contentcorresponding to the touched content icon (290).

FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method to searchfor and execute a content of FIG. 2. FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C illustrate adisplay screen to search for and execute a content according to theexample of FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the controller 130 may instruct the display unit112 to display at least one content icon (510). The display screen shownin FIG. 5B corresponds to a background screen or a standby screen of thedevice 100 having the touch screen 110. FIG. 5B illustrates 9 contenticons, wherein ‘PIC 1,’ ‘PIC 2,’ and ‘PIC 3’ are picture content icons,‘MUS 1,’ ‘MUS 2,’ and ‘MUS 3’ are music content icons, and ‘WORD 1,’‘WORD 2,’ and ‘WORD 3’ are document content icons.

A user may perform an approach action to the touch screen 110 with atouch device (520). The approach action to the touch screen 110 may beperformed until the touch device moves within a preset distance in avertical direction from the touch screen 110.

If the perpendicular distance from the touch screen 110 to a touchdevice is ‘X’ and the maximum distance at which the approach detectionunit 114 can detect an approach is ‘MD,’ the approach detection unit 114may detect an approach of the touch device when ‘X’ is less than orequal to ‘MD’ (530).

If ‘X’ is less than or equal to ‘MD,’ the approach detection unit 114may detect an approach of the touch device to the touch screen 110 andmay transmit an approach detection signal to the controller 130 (540).If ‘X’ is greater than ‘MD,’ the process may return to step 520.

When the controller 130 receives the approach detection signal from theapproach detection unit 114, the controller 130 may identify a contenticon at a position at which the approach is detected (550). The contenticon at the position at which the approach is detected may be a contenticon positioned within a preset distance of a position of the touchdevice. The preset distance may be changed by user setting. In FIG. 5B,the content icon of the position at which the approach is detected maybe the picture content icon ‘PIC 3’.

The controller 130 may search the storage unit 120 for at least onerelated content in the same category as that of content corresponding tothe identified content icon according to a preset classificationreference (560). The classification reference may be set so that relatedcontent corresponds to content having a file format identical to orsimilar to that of the content corresponding to the identified contenticon. The controller 130 may identify the approached content icon ‘PIC3’ and may search the storage unit 120 for related content classified inthe same category as that of the content corresponding to ‘PIC 3.’ Forexample, the controller 130 may search for content having the same fileformat as that of ‘PIC 3.’ ‘PIC 3’ is a picture content and may have afile format such as a ‘JPEG image,’ ‘bit map image,’ or ‘GIF image.’ Thecontroller 130 may search for contents having a file format identical toor similar to that of ‘PIC 3’, for example, contents corresponding topicture content icons ‘PIC 1’ and ‘PIC 2.’

The file formats of the contents corresponding to ‘PIC1,’ ‘PIC 2,’ and‘PIC 3’ may be identical or similar and may be changed by user setting.For example, ‘PIC 1,’ ‘PIC2,’ and ‘PIC 3’ may all have a file format ofa ‘JPEG image,’ or one or more may have a file format of a ‘bit mapimage’ or a ‘GIF image’.

When related contents are found, the controller 130 may instruct thedisplay unit 112 to move and display related content icon correspondingto the found related content to an area within a preset distance fromthe identified content icon (570). An ‘icon movement’ display method maybe set as a method of displaying a content icon. The controller 130 maymove icons ‘PIC 1’ and ‘PIC 2’ to an area within a preset distance oficon ‘PIC 3.’ A display gap between the identified content icon andrelated content icons, and a movement path of related content icons, maybe changed by user setting. Further, when related content icons aremoved, positions of content icons other than the identified content iconand related content icons thereof may be changed.

The touch detection unit 116 may then determine whether one of thedisplayed content icons is touched (580).

If one of the displayed content icons is touched, the touch detectionunit 116 may detect the touch and may transmit a touch detection signalto the controller 130. When the controller 130 receives the touchdetection signal from the touch detection unit 116, the controller 130may identify the content icon at the position touched by the touchdevice, and may execute a content corresponding to the content icon(590). FIG. 5C illustrates a screen in which the user touches thecontent icon ‘PIC 3’, and when ‘PIC 3’ is touched, a contentcorresponding thereto may be executed.

If none of the displayed content icons is touched at step 580, theprocess may return to step 570.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method to searchfor and execute a content of FIG. 2. FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, and FIG. 6Dillustrate a display screen to search for and execute content accordingto the example of FIG. 6A.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the controller 130 may instruct the display unit112 to display at least one content icon (610). The display screen shownin FIG. 6B corresponds to a background screen or a standby screen of thedevice 100 having the touch screen 110 and may display a folderincluding contents. FIG. 6B illustrates 9 picture content icons, namely‘date 1,’ ‘date 2,’ ‘date 3,’ ‘scenery 1,’ ‘scenery 2,’ ‘scenery 3,’‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’ and ‘friend 3.’

A touch device may approach the touch screen 110 (620), and the approachaction to the touch screen 110 may be performed until the touch devicemoves within a preset distance in a vertical direction from the touchscreen 110. If the perpendicular distance from the touch screen 110 to atouch device is ‘X’ and the maximum distance at which the approachdetection unit 114 can detect an approach is ‘MD,’ the approachdetection unit 114 may detect an approach of the touch device when ‘X’is less than or equal to ‘MD’ (630).

If ‘X’ is less than or equal to ‘MD,’ the approach detection unit 114may detect an approach of the touch device to the touch screen 110 andmay transmit an approach detection signal to the controller 130 (640).If ‘X’ is greater than ‘MD,’ the process returns to step 620.

When the controller 130 receives the approach detection signal from theapproach detection unit 114, the controller 130 may identify a contenticon at a position at which the approach is detected (650). The contenticon of the position at which the approach is detected may be a contenticon positioned within a preset distance from a position of the touchdevice. In FIG. 6B, the content icon of the position at which theapproach is detected may be the picture content icon ‘friend 3.’

The controller 130 may search the storage unit 120 for at least onerelated content classified in the same category as that of contentcorresponding to the identified content icon according to a presetclassification reference (660). The classification reference may be setso that related content corresponds to content having a content nameidentical to or similar to that of the content corresponding to theidentified content icon of the position at which the approach isdetected. The controller 130 may identify the approached content icon‘friend 3’ and may search the storage unit 120 for related contentclassified in the same category as that of content corresponding to‘friend 3’ according to the preset classification reference. Forexample, the controller 130 may search for a content having a contentname identical to or similar to that of ‘friend 3,’ namely contentscorresponding to the picture content icons ‘friend 1’ and ‘friend 2.’

When related contents are found, the controller 130 may divide a displayarea in which content icons are to be displayed (670). The divideddisplay area may be set to divide content icons in a set configuration,and can be set in any suitable manner by user setting.

After the display area is divided, the controller 130 may instruct thedisplay unit 112 to display related content icons in the divided displayarea (680). FIG. 6C illustrates a screen in which the content icons‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’ and ‘friend 3’ may be displayed together todistinguish from displayed content icons other than ‘friend 1,’ ‘friend2,’ and ‘friend 3.’ Content icons ‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’ and ‘friend 3’may be displayed in a separate area (distinguished by a dotted line) ofan upper part of the display screen, and content icons other than‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’ and ‘friend 3’ may be displayed in a lower partof the display screen below the content icons ‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’and ‘friend 3.’

FIG. 6D illustrates a screen in which contents corresponding to contenticons other than ‘friend 1,’ ‘friend 2,’ and ‘friend 3’ may beclassified according to a preset classification reference and theircorresponding content icons displayed. The classification reference maybe set to classify the contents into contents having, for example, thesame or similar content name. For example, corresponding content icons‘date 1,’ ‘date 2,’ and ‘date 3,’ and content icons ‘scenery 1,’‘scenery 2,’ and ‘scenery 3’ may be displayed in divided display areas(distinguished by dotted lines).

The touch detection unit 116 may then determine whether one of thedisplayed content icons is touched (690).

If one of the displayed content icons is touched, the touch detectionunit 116 may detect the touch and may transmit a touch detection signalto the controller 130. When the controller 130 receives the touchdetection signal from the touch detection unit 116, the controller 130may identify the content icon at the position touched by the touchdevice and may execute a content corresponding to the content icon(695). FIG. 6C and FIG. 6D illustrate a screen in which the user touchesthe content icon ‘friend 3,’ and a content corresponding thereto isexecuted.

If none of the displayed content icons is touched at step 690, theprocess may return to step 680.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method to searchfor and execute a content of FIG. 2. FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C illustrate adisplay screen for searching for and executing a content according tothe example of FIG. 7A.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the controller 130 may instruct the display unit112 to display at least one content icon (710). The display screen shownin FIG. 7B corresponds to a background screen or a standby screen of thedevice 100 having the touch screen 110. The display screen may display afolder including contents. FIG. 7B shows 4 content icons correspondingto contents relating to personal information of persons ‘Peter Smith,’‘David Roberts,’ ‘Jane Davis,’ and ‘Sue Owen.’

A touch device may approach the touch screen 110 (720). The approachaction to the touch screen 110 may be performed until the touch devicemoves within a preset distance in a vertical direction from the touchscreen 110. If the perpendicular distance from the touch screen 110 to atouch device is ‘X’ and the maximum distance at which the approachdetection unit 114 can detect an approach is ‘MD,’ the approachdetection unit 114 may detect an approach of the touch device when ‘X’is less than or equal to ‘MD’ (730).

If ‘X’ is less than or equal to ‘MD,’ the approach detection unit 114may detect an approach of the touch device to the touch screen 110 andmay transmit an approach detection signal to the controller 130 (740).If ‘X’ is greater than ‘MD,’ the process may return to step 720.

When the controller 130 receives the approach detection signal from theapproach detection unit 114, the controller 130 may identify a contenticon at a position at which the approach is detected (750). The contenticon at the position at which the approach is detected may be a contenticon positioned within a preset distance from a position of the touchdevice. In FIG. 7B, the content icon of the position at which theapproach is detected may be the content icon ‘Sue Owen’.

The controller 130 may search the storage unit 120 for at least onerelated content having a linked function to content corresponding to theidentified content icon according to a preset classification reference(760). The classification reference may be set so that related contentcorresponds to content having a linked function to the contentcorresponding to the identified content icon. The controller 130 mayidentify the approached content icon ‘Sue Owen’ and may search thestorage unit 120 for related content classified in the same category asthat of the content corresponding to the content icon ‘Sue Owen’. Thecontroller 130 may search for content having a linked function tocontent corresponding to the content icon ‘Sue Owen.’ The link functioncontent may be communication function content, message transmission andreception content, e-mail transmission and reception content, picturecontent, or homepage link function content, and can be changed by usersetting. Further, the link function content can be set on a content iconbasis.

When related contents are found, the controller 130 may instruct thedisplay unit 112 to display content icons corresponding to the foundrelated contents (770). ‘Icon generation’ may be set as a method ofdisplaying a content icon. The controller 130 may generate and displayrelated content icons in an area within a preset distance from thecontent icon ‘Sue Owen’ in the display unit 112. The area within apreset distance can be changed by user setting. Further, a display ofthe related content icon and a separation distance between relatedcontent icons can be changed by user setting. For example, FIG. 7Billustrates a case where related content icons may be displayed radiallyabout the content icon ‘Sue Owen’.

The touch detection unit 116 may then determine whether one of thedisplayed content icons is touched (780).

If one of the displayed content icons is touched, the touch detectionunit 116 may detect the touch and may transmit a touch detection signalto the controller 130.

When the controller 130 receives the touch detection signal from thetouch detection unit 116, the controller 130 may identify the contenticon of the position touched by the touch device and may execute acontent corresponding to the content icon (790). FIG. 7C illustrates acase where the user touches an e-mail transmission and reception contenticon, and when the e-mail transmission and reception content icon istouched, the user can transmit an e-mail to ‘Sue Owen’, or receive ane-mail transmitted from ‘Peter Smith’.

If none of the displayed content icons is touched at step 780, theprocess may return to step 770.

As described above, content can be simply searched for and executedwhile reducing the quantity of a user's touch actions.

Further, by reducing the quantity of a user's touch actions, an improvedcontent execution function can be provided to the user, and a sensitiveuser interface can be provided to the user by enabling continuousoperation of approach and touch actions.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: displaying content icons ona touch screen; in response to detecting an approach of a touch inputmeans to a content icon of the displayed content icons, displaying atleast one related content icon corresponding to at least one relatedcontent to an area within a preset distance from the approached contenticon while the approach is detected, the at least one related contenticon being displayed prior to a contact of the touch input means on thetouch screen; and in response to detecting a touch of the touch inputmeans to one content icon of the displayed at least one related contenticon and the approached content icon, executing content corresponding tothe touched one content icon.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the atleast one related content comprises content having a file formatidentical to or similar to the content corresponding to the approachedcontent icon.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one relatedcontent comprises content having at least one of a content name, contentgeneration time point, and content generation source identical to orsimilar to a content name, content generation time point, and contentgeneration source of the content corresponding to the approached contenticon.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one related contentcomprises at least one of content having a linked function to thecontent corresponding to the approached content icon, content having ahigh use frequency in relation to a use frequency of the contentcorresponding to the approached content icon, and a most recently usedcontent corresponding to the content corresponding to the approachedcontent icon.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one relatedcontent icon is displayed in any direction to the area within the presetdistance from the approached content icon while the approach isdetected.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a separation distancebetween the at least one related content icon is determined based on asetting.
 7. The method comprising: displaying content icons; in responseto detecting an approach of a touch input means to a content icon of thedisplayed content icons, displaying at least one related content iconcorresponding to at least one related content to an area within a presetdistance from the approached content icon while the approach isdetected, the at least one related content icon being created inresponse to the approach of the touch input means; and in response todetecting a touch of the touch input means to one content icon of thedisplayed at least one related content icon and the approached contenticon, executing content corresponding to the touched one content icon,wherein when the content corresponding to the approached content icon isa picture content, the at least one related content comprises at leastone of content comprising a same person image as a person image providedin the picture content corresponding to the approached content icon,content comprising a same location image as a location image provided inthe picture content corresponding to the approached content icon, andcontent generated by the same photographing means as a photographingmeans of the picture content corresponding to the approached contenticon.
 8. A device, comprising: an approach detection unit to detect anapproach of a touch input means; a touch detection unit to detect atouch of the touch input means; a display unit to display content iconsand content corresponding to the content icons; a storage unit to storethe content icons and the content corresponding to the content icons;and a controller to: when an approach detection signal associated withdetection of the approach of the touch input means to a content icon ofthe displayed content icons is received from the approach detectionunit, search, in the storage unit, for at least one related contentclassified in a category related to content corresponding to theapproached content icon; display at least one related content iconcorresponding to the at least one related content to an area within apreset distance from the approached content icon while the approach isdetected, the at least one related content icon being created inresponse to the approach of the touch input means; and when a touchdetection signal associated with the touch of the touch input means toone content icon of the displayed at least one related content icon andthe approached content icon is received from the touch detection unit,execute content corresponding to the touched one content icon.
 9. Thedevice of claim 8, wherein the at least one related content comprisescontent having a file format identical to or similar to the contentcorresponding to the approached content icon.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein the at least one related content comprises content having atleast one of a content name, content generation time point, and contentgeneration source identical to or similar to a content name, contentgeneration time point, and content generation source of the contentcorresponding to the approached content icon.
 11. The device of claim 8,wherein the at least one related content comprises at least one ofcontent having a linked function to the content corresponding to theapproached content icon, content having a high use frequency in relationto a use frequency of the content corresponding to the approachedcontent icon, and a most recently used content corresponding to thecontent corresponding to the approached content icon.
 12. The device ofclaim 8, wherein when the content corresponding to the approachedcontent icon is a picture content, the at least one related contentcomprises at least one of content comprising a same person image as aperson image provided in the picture content corresponding to theapproached content icon, content comprising a same location image as alocation image provided in the picture content corresponding to theapproached content icon, and content generated by the same photographingmeans as a photographing means of the picture content corresponding tothe approached content icon.
 13. The device of claim 8, wherein the atleast one related content icon is displayed in any direction to the areawithin the preset distance from the approached content icon while theapproach is detected.
 14. The device of claim 8, wherein a separationdistance between the at least one related content icon is determinedbased on a setting.